Cheryl Shaul Akright, a Pinedale native, is the new president of the University of Wyoming International Board of Advisors (IBOA), an organization that works to build international capacity at UW and in Wyoming.
A UW alumna, Akright will serve a two-year term. She is a director and a founding member of Red Collar International, an organization that provides a range of financial and strategic services to domestic and international businesses. The company is active in Russia, China and Colorado.
She was named IBOA president during the board's spring meeting. The IBOA fosters UW's participation in international activities at home and abroad, informs Wyoming citizens about the importance of participating in the world community and economy, and advises the UW International Programs office, says Anne Alexander, director of UW International Programs.
During its meeting, board members set three major goals the next two
years, including the creation of the IBOA Speaker Forum, a regular
speaker series featuring scholars and policy-makers discussing topical
international issues.
"The board will work to establish a Leadership Alliance for returning
Cheney scholarship and fellowship recipients to encourage leadership and
service among returnees from study abroad programs," Alexander says.
"The board also will provide leadership in recruiting students to UW by
emphasizing UW's commitment to producing global citizens."
Akright brings a wealth of international experience to her new appointment.
From 1994-2004, she lived and worked in Eastern Europe and Hong Kong.
Earlier, while in Moscow, she held executive positions, including vice
president of marketing and sales for one of Russia's first independent
media companies, StoryFirst Communications. Akright managed a
multi-million dollar research project for General Motors and served as
the commercial director for the Ukrainian operations of Golden Telecom.
In 2003 she joined one of Colorado's top advertising and public relations firms as executive vice president, and worked closely with coffee giant Starbucks, the Wyoming Travel and Tourism board of directors, the real estate development Lowry and Internet company MapQuest.
Other IBOA board members are Anne Nickerson, Big Horn, vice president; Dave Bostrom, Worland; Elizabeth Cheney, McLean, Va.; Tim Graham, Alexandria, Va.; Cathy Healy, Washington, D.C.; Sally Kennedy, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Col. William Patton, Sheridan; Jacques Rieux, La Porte, Colo.; Dr. Tom Spicer, Rock Springs; Grant Ujifusa, Chappaqua, N.Y.; and from UW, Oliver Walter, College of Arts and Sciences dean; Garth Massey, International Studies director; and Alexander.
